Mintel’s latest series of report analyses the European market for health and beauty retailing - whether you are looking for pan-European analysis or wanting to focus specifically on one country these reports are essential reading for anyone involved in the industry.

In four of the six countries covered in this series, the health and beauty sector has been gaining share of all retail sales in its national marketplace. The UK and Italy are the two exceptions. In the UK, attrition has been modest and progress made by the competing grocery channel in core product areas like volume toiletries and OTC medicines has been a key factor. In Italy, government cost cutting measures on prescription drugs has affected market performance.

Will this picture remain the same for the next few years? Will new product development, greater awareness of health and wellbeing, continued store expansion change the shape of the industry and the major players?

What effect is the lack of European harmonisation on OTC medicines distribution having upon the market? Will this result in more aggressive cross-border activity among the major players?

The UK’s Boots the Chemists is Europe’s largest health and beauty specialist by turnover, followed by Schlecker and AS Watson, although Mintel predicts that these two will close the gap on Boots over coming years as a result of their aggressive expansion strategies.

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